Refrigerator door gasket



Feb. 18, 1958 E. T. MORTON 2,823,430

REFRIGERATOR DOOR GASKET Filed March 25, 1955 IN VEN TOR.

ll/.5 ATTO NE) EVA M5 15 MOBTON 2 ,823,430 REFRIGERATOR DooR GASKET Evans T. Morton, Knoxville, 111., assignor to Midwest Manufacturing Corporation, Galesburg, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 25, 1955, Serial No. 496,800

9 Claims. (CI. 20-69) This invention relates to improvements in door seals and more particularly to an improved door gasket such as is useful in providing a seal between a refrigerator door and a cabinet.

As is well known to those versed in the art, it is customary in the construction of refrigerator cabinets to provide a highly compressible, flexible member between the door and the frame defining the door opening, which member effectively seals the door to the cabinet against the ingress and egress of air.

One of the principal desirable features in such a device is to provide a structure which will compress to different degrees at different portions to cause an effective and eflicient seal in the presence of unequal spacing between the opposing parts of the door and the cabinet with a minimum of force.

Heretofore, various attempts have been made to provide gaskets to effect the sealing and among the more successful attempts are those shown in my Patent No. 2,636,228 of April 28, 1953, where the gasket is provided with a convex portion that carries a rib to the end of which a bead is secured.

It will be noted, in the foregoing patent, that the rib which carries the bead is relatively short, and although it would be desirable to have a somewhat longer rib, it is difficult to manufacture such a device by efficient production methods and still have a rib and bead which will stand out from the body of the gasket in the proper manner to provide the more effective operation and maintain predetermined tolerances.

It is customary to form these articles of a resilient rubber or rubber-like material where the form is extruded through a die and subsequently cured. It is extremely difficult to keep the rib and its bead at the proper angularity in relation to the body and to make it stand away from the body, since it has a tendency to collapse toward the body during curing. When these devices are stored there is also a tendency for the rib to bend over and take a permanent set which destroys its effectiveness.

By my present invention, I am able to make a gasket having a convex body from which there extends an oblique rib, the end of which carries a bead, and wherein this rib is longer than is customary and wherein it still extends away from the body in an exact position to perform its proposed operation more efficiently.

Briefly, I am able to provide this longer rib and hold it in its exact position during the curing process by Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section illustrating a modifi cation of my invention. 7 v

As best seen in Fig. 2 where the gasket is shown in cross-section and in the formation that it takes before being applied to the refrigerator door.

Referring to the drawings, there is provided a base 10- which is slightly curved but which takes a flat configuration when applied to the door. (Fig. 3'). It is provided with a downwardly extending lip 11, for better sealing.

properties with the door.

Attached to opposite sides of the base portion and integral therewith is a rounded or convex wall 12, which, together with the base, define a hollow interior. This wall may be semicircular or it may be curved, as shown, after the form of an air foil section. In either event, at the highest point of the curved section there is provided a rib 13 which extends outwardly therefrom at an angle. 'It may be appreciated that the angle may vary within wide limits, depending upon the particular application of the gasket.

At the end of the rib there is preferably provided a circular bead, which may vary in size and in one form may have a radius of The periphery of the bead 14 is tangent to one side of the rib, thus allowing the main body of the bead 14 to overhang the convex surface in the direction of inclination of the rib. It will be noted that the rib, in this instance, is considerably wider than in the embodiment of the above-mentioned patents and may be as much as A" from the top of the curved surface 12 to the underside of the bead.

Although I have shown a solid head, it is within the I purview of my invention to make a hollow bead as shown providing an auxiliary support which engages the bead Fig. -4 shows the different contours taken when the .door is closed; and

by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. It is also possible that in place of the bead a lip 30 or T-shaped end could be substituted as shown in Fig. 5.

A web 15 extends between the overhanding portion of the bead and the surface 12. Preferably, it is secured to the bead at a point spaced from the junction of the rib with the bead, by a narrow section 16, and, to the convex surface 12 by a narrow section 17. The spacing at its point of connection to the convex surface 12, from the rib 13, is greater at this point than at its point of connection to the bead. The width of the point of connection 17 is also slightly greater. The web may be curved or substantially straight in transverse cross-section.

It will be appreciated that this described structure, is a preferred form but that this web could be varied; within wide limits and that it could be of uniform thick-. ness from the base to the top and also have a wider at-.

tachment at the base and the top without departing from: the spirit of the invention. With a structure as described, theraw material may be extruded through a die and the web 15 will support the bead 14 at the proper angle while the gasket is being cured.

Preferably, when the gasket is installed the web or strip l5 is grasped by the fingers or a suitable tool and .lapse more readily than the rib, bowing inwardly into the hollow space 19 defined by the rib on one side, the web on the other side, and the bead and concave surface 12 at the other extremities. Both the weakened points of attachment and the concave surface assist in etfectingthis action.

, Patented Feb. 18, 1958 It will therefore be seen that I have provided a gasket having a highly flexible rib and bead which may be readily manufactured with a much wider rib than is customary, and still maintain exact dimensions between the outermost surface of thebe'ad and the base. It will also be apparent that a more flexible bead may be provided by merely removing the web, as stated, thus enabling an effective seal for doors under relatively light pressure, or that the web may remainin place and still provide an effective seal for doors where a much greater pressure is exercised upon the closing.

In the rib of 'my prior patent I have found that it commonly requires approximately five pounds of pressure per linear foot to deform or bend the rib, to seal properly against the door jamb. Since it is common for a refrigerator to require fifteen or more feetof gasket it will be apparent that a total of seventy-five pounds is required to provide an effective seal. The entire effect applied, i. e. seventy-five pounds, is therefore exerted on the door latch. With a rib constructed aecording to the present invention I have found that it onlyrequires one and one-half pounds per foot and that'therefore a fifteen foot gasket only requires a total pressure of twenty two and one-half pounds to provide an effective seal.

Thus a latch of a much lighter construction may be used and the door may be opened easily with considerably less noise.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 where the gasket is applied to a door structure it will be noted that the'base 10 becomes flatter and in some instances may be substantially fiat where it engages the intwined flange 31 on the door.

In the gasket shown the strip between the inturned and closed much more flange 31 and the inner panel 32 of the door. In this particular instance the gasket is provided with a tail which comprises a curved projection 33 and extending from the base an opposing projection 34 of substantially the form shown, A tongue 35 in spaced relation from the base 1 provides a notch which engages the edge of the flange.

In Fig. 4 it will be noted that when the gasket is bent over by engagement with the door jamb indicated at 36 the curved portion takes an inward; bend, as in; dicated at37. i d A 7 Another advantage of the present construction resides in the fact that it may be tailored by cutting to, enable it to conform tocurvedportions or sharp angle bends of the door without destroying its ability to seal. In this connection 'at the place where the door: strike enters the door the gasket may becut as indieatedat E E in Fig. 2, removing the extremity of the tail 34an'd the part 33 to thus provide room for the door latch to operate.

At the places where the gasket bends around sharp.

corners the gasket may be cut in the tail portionasin: dicated by the line D-D and between the two lines FF on the base to remove these parts which permit the gasket to be readily bent in the corner portions.

Having thus described my invention, it will be, ap

preciated that the structures shown have been selected merely for the purpose of illustration, and. that various changes in the. parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A door sealing gasket comprisinga body having a.

base portion adapted to be connected to a door or the like, a curved section extending, awayfrom thebase portion toward a frame of, anopening to besealed and pro? viding a space therebetween,a rib on theexterior sinface of said curvedsection extending at an angle from said curved section, a. bead onsaid rib connected to the rib and having a portion. overhanging said curved section, and a thin webconnectedfb'etween the overhanging portion of.said bead andsaid curved section at an angle inclined opposite to the angle of-said rib. i i A 2. A door sealing gasket comprising a body having a gasket also acts as a breaker invention, as defined in,

base portion adapted to be connected to a door or the like, a curved section extending away from the base portion toward a frame of an opening to be sealed and providing a space therebetween, a rib on the exterior surface of said curved section extending at an oblique angle from said curved section, a circular head on said rib connected tangentially to the rib on one side and having the other side overhanging said curved section, and a thin web connected between the overhanging portion of said bead and said curved section at an angle inclined opposite to the angle of said rib.

3. A door sealing gasket comprising a body having a base portion adapted to. rest against a door or the like, a curved section extending away from said base portion toward the opening to be sealed and providing a space therebetween, a rib on the exterior surface of said curved section extending at an oblique angle from said curved section, a circular head on said rib connected tangentially to the rib. on. one. side and having the other side overhanging said; curved. section, and a thin web between the overhanging portion of said bead and said curved section at an angle inclined opposite to the angle of said rib, saidweb being connected to the bead by a narrow section easily serverable from the head.

4. A door sealing gasket comprising a body having a base portion "adapted to rest against a door or the like, a curved section extending away from said base portion toward the opening to be sealed and providing a space therebetween, a rib. on the exterior surface of said curved section, a curved portion carried on the end of said rib and having one portion overhanging said curved section, and a thin web extending between the overhanging portion of said curved portion and said curved section at' an angle inclined opposite to the angle'of said rib, said web being connected to saidoverhanging portion and said curved section by narrow sections easily serverable from the overhanging portion and the curved section.

5. A door sealing gasket comprising a body having a base portion adapted to rest against a door or the like, a curved section extending away from said base portion toward'the opening to be sealed and providing a space therebetween, a rib on the exterior surface of said curved section, a curved portion carried on the endof said rib and having one portion overhanging said curved section, and a'thin web extending between the overhanging portion of said curved portion and said curved section at an angle inclined opposite to the angle of said rib and formed to provide a'transverse cross section that is convex toward the rib, said web being connected to said overhanging portion'and said curved section by narrow sections easily severable from, the overhanging portion and the curved section.

6 A door sealing gasket comprising a body having a base portion, adapted to restagainst a door or the like, a curved section extending away from said base portion toward the opening to be sealed. and providing a space therebetween, a rib on the exterior surface of said curved section, a curved portion carried on the end of said rib and having one portion overhanging said curved section, and a thinweb extendingbetween the overhanging portion of said curved portion and said curved section at an angle inclined opposite to the angle of said riband formed to provide a transverse cross section that is convex towardtherib andthat is concave on the side facing away from the rib, said web being connected, to said overhanging portion and-said curved section by narrow sections easily severable from the overhangingportion and the curved section.

7 A door sealing gasket comprising a body having. a base portion adapted to r estfagainst a door or the like, a curved section extending away from said base portion toward theope'ning, tub? 'sealed' and providinga space therebetween,"a rib on the exterior surface" of said curved section, a curved portion carried on the end of said rib and having one portion overhanging said curved section, a web extending between the overhanging portion of said curved portion and said curved section at an angle inclined opposite to the angle of said rib, said web having a thickened mid section and being connected to said overhanging portion by a narrow portion and to said curved section by a section narrower than the mid section and wider than the connection to said overhanging portion whereby it is easily severable from the overhanging portion and the curved section.

8. A door sealing gasket comprising a body having a base portion adapted to be connected to a door or the like, a curved section connected at its opposite ends to said base portion and between its ends extending away from the base portion toward a frame of an opening to be sealed and providing a hollow space between itself and the base portion, a rib on the exterior surface of said curved section extending at an angle from said curved section, said rib terminating in a portion overhanging .said curved section, and a thin web connected between the overhanging portion of said rib and said curved section in spaced relation to said rib, said web being connected to said curved section at a location thereon spaced from said ends of the curved section.

9. A door sealing gasket comprising a body having a base portion adapted to be connected to a door or the like, a curved section connected at its opposite ends to said base portion and between its ends extending away from the base portion toward a frame of an opening to be sealed and providing a hollow space between itself and the base portion, a rib on the exterior surface of said curved section extending at an angle from said curved section, said rib terminating in a portion overhanging said curved section, and a thin web extending between the overhanging portion of said rib and said curved section in spaced relation to said rib, said web being connected by sections of reduced thickness to said overhanging portion and to said curved section at a location thereon spaced from said ends of the curved section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,180,886 Thomas Nov. 21, 1939 2,198,838 Peltier Apr. 30, 1940 2,368,837 Hubacker Feb. 6, 1945 2,700,194 Rasmussen Jan. 25, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 702,743 Great Britain Jan. 20, 1954 

